Highland Games

Highland Games 

Thursday, Sept. 7 - Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023

Revel in the rich traditions of Scotland on PennWest Edinboro's picturesque campus during the 29th annual Highland Games and Scottish Festival, Sept. 7-9 2023.

2023 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, September 7

Event Location

Time

The sky above Edinburgh... or is that Edinboro... or; what difference does it make anyway?* Planetarium

7:00 pm

 

Friday, September 8

Event Location

Time

Fiddle Workshop (open to the public) Pogue 143

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Regional Qualifier Fiddle Competition Pogue Theater

7:00 - 8:30 pm

Movie Under the Stars Special Event “Brave” Pogue Lawns

8:00 pm

 

Saturday, September 9

Event Location Time
National Scottish Fiddle Championships – US Junior Pogue Theater

8:30 - 10:30 am

Heavy Athletic Competitions Lawns 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Scottish Clan Gatherings Tent 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Scottish Village Vendors Tents/ Lawns & Lots

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Weaving Art Tent 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Scottish & American Foods Lawns & Lots 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Solo Pipe & Drum Competitions Solo Tents - North McComb 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Bookstore Pogue Student Center 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Music Performances Presented by 710 Glass and Vapor Performance Tent

9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Disc Golf ACE Tournament Lowlands/Campus Course 10:00 am
Plein Air – Live Paint & Art Exhibitions Art Tent /Lawns

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Kids’ Highland Games & Crafts Gazebo & Lawns 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Clydesdales Lawns 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Highland Dance Competition Pogue MPR 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Archery Lawns 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Beer Garden presented by Lake Erie Ale Trail McComb Lawns 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Folk Harper Showcases Gazebo 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
1:00 - 2:00 pm
3:00 - 4:00 pm
University Singers Performance Tent 11:30 - 11:45 am
Opening Ceremonies & Massed Bands McComb Lawns 12:00 pm
National Scottish Fiddle Championships – US Open Pogue Theater

12:30 - 3:30 pm

Carol Kappus, Michigan Master Harper Performance Tent

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Bagpipe Band Competition Presented by Engine House 39/Edinboro VFD Lawns North of Scott Road

1:00 - 4:00 pm

Chelsea House Orchestra Performance Tent

2;00 - 4:00 pm

Tug O War McComb Lawns

2:00 - 4:00 pm

Harp Workshop Gazebo

2:15 - 2:45 pm

Closing Ceremony/Massed Bands McComb Lawns

4:00 pm

Ceilidh! Dinner, Music, and Cash Bar

Van Houten North

5:00 - 9:00 pm

* Program is FREE but registration is required. Reservations can be made online or by calling 814-732-2493.

All events are FREE except the Ceilidh ($30)

Schedule is subject to change. Please monitor websites as details are finalized.

Thursday, September 7

The sky above Edinburgh... or is that Edinboro... or; what difference does it make anyway?*
Planetarium
7:00 pm
* Program is FREE but registration is required. Reservations can be made online or by calling 814-732-2493.

 

Friday, September 8

Fiddle Workshop (open to the public)
Pogue 143
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Regional Qualifier Fiddle Competition
Pogue Theater
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Movie Under the Stars Special Event “Brave”
Pogue Lawns
8:00 pm

 

Saturday, September 9

Heavy Athletic Competitions
Lawns
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Scottish Clan Gatherings
Tent
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Scottish Village Vendors
Tents/ Lawns & Lots
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Weaving
Art Tent
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Scottish & American Foods
Lawns & Lots
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Solo Pipe & Drum Competitions
Solo Tents - North McComb
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Music Performances Presented by 710 Glass and Vapor**
Performance Tent
9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Bagpipe Band Competition Presented by Engine House 39/Edinboro VFD
Lawns North of Scott Road
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Disc Golf ACE Tournament
Lowlands/Campus Course
10:00 am
Plein Air – Live Paint & Art Exhibitions
Art Tent /Lawns
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Kids’ Highland Games & Crafts
Gazebo & Lawns
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Clydesdales
Lawns
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Highland Dance Competition
Pogue MPR
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Archery
Lawns
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Beer Garden presented by Lake Erie Ale Trail
McComb Lawns
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Bookstore
Pogue Student Center
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Folk Harper Showcases
Gazebo
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
1:00 - 2:00 pm
3:00 - 4:00 pm
University Singers
Performance Tent
11:30 am - 11:45 am
Opening Ceremonies & Massed Bands
McComb Lawns
12:00 pm
National Scottish Fiddle Championships - US Junior
Pogue Theater
8:30 - 10:30 am
National Scottish Fiddle Championships - US Open
Pogue Theater
12:30 - 3:30 pm
Carol Kappus, Michigan Master Harper
Performance Tent
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Chelsea House Orchestra
Performance Tent
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Tug O War
McComb Lawns
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Harp Workshop
Gazebo
2:15 - 2:45 pm
Closing Ceremony/Massed Bands
McComb Lawns
4:00 pm
Ceilidh! Dinner, Music, and Cash Bar
Van Houten North
5:00 - 9:00 pm
All events are FREE except the Ceilidh ($30)
Schedule is subject to change. Please monitor websites as details are finalized.

 


Performance Times TBA

REGISTRATION

Clan Registration

Come to the Ceilidh!

National Fiddle Registration

Regional Fiddle Registration

Highland Dance Competition Registration

Marketplace

Plein Air Entry Form

Pipe Band Competition Registration

Solo Pipe & Drum Competitions Registration

Vendor Registration

Interested vendors should contact:
Katie Spangenberg
Director, Highland Games
Email: kspangenberg@pennwest.edu
Phone: 814-732-2770

The Story of the Edinboro Highland Games

 

A Brief History

The first Edinboro Highland Games and Scottish Festival was held in April 1993, after eight months of planning in Dr. Tim Thompson’s communication classes. On a day featuring typical Scottish weather, a crowd of five hundred enjoyed two pipe bands, one vendor, kids’ games, and student athletic competitions. 

Crowds of five thousand or more now enjoy the annual games that feature an array of competitions, world-class musicians, fine gift vendors, and the gathering of Scottish clans. Musicians including master fiddlers Alasdair Fraser and Bonnie Rideout, the piper Eric Rigler of Braveheart fame, singer Ed Miller, and groups such as Cherish the Ladies, Seven Nations and the Chelsea House Orchestra have thrilled audiences across twenty years. In 2003, the Downtown Edinboro Art and Music Festival was born as part of the Edinboro Highland Games. While the Scottish Festival has since moved to a September date, the Art & Music Festival continues to thrive as a wonderful tradition each May. The Edinboro Games now hold sanctioned competitions in professional and amateur heavy athletics, pipe band and solo piping and drumming, highland dance, Celtic and Scottish harp, and the U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championships. Along with delicious Scottish and festival foods and family gatherings, the Edinboro Highland Games have grown into one of the most unique and interesting cultural events in the Erie-Chautauqua region.

Sponsors

PennWest Edinboro
EUSGA
Erie Arts & Culture
Erie Brewing Company
ECGRA
Pennsylvania Counsil on the Arts
Visit Erie
Robert Burns Scottish Club
710 Glass and Vape     Engine House